4 ms·

Yet a fairly large portion of ham radio activity is now digital (FT8).

• kawfey 7y ago
  That is still via ham radio, and it's still very analog. A digital signal is created by a computer, which is converted into an [analog] audio signal, then piped through the [analog] audio input (either mic or line-in) of a ham radio, transmitted over [analog] RF, and decoded by the receiver's computer in reverse. The point of the article is that is the communication isn't relying on standard communications infrastructure. The headline falls short.
  • hilbert42 7y ago
    "The headline falls short" Yeah, but we all well know what the 'shorthand' means!
  • rhinoceraptor 7y ago
    In that case, everything is analog. When a transistor (digital) switches, it does so via electricity (analog).
• wglb 7y ago
  Yes, it has certainly taken off. But there are still morse code traffic networks, and lots of voice activity. There is very significant CW activity during contests and other special events. But FT8 has seriously balooned. But there are other digital modes that are suited to passing emergency traffic in reliable ways, but their use hasn't grown nearly as much.